If you make and sell scented candles in the EU or Great Britain, chances are each one needs a CLP hazard label. Here's how to know for sure.
What CLP is
CLP — the Classification, Labelling and Packaging regulation (EC 1272/2008) — governs how hazardous mixtures are labelled. A finished candle counts as a mixture, and the fragrance oil you add is usually what makes it hazardous.
When a candle needs a label
Your candle needs a CLP label when its fragrance load pushes one or more hazards over the classification threshold. The most common triggers for candles are:
- Skin sensitisers (H317) — many fragrance allergens.
- Aquatic toxicity (H411) — common in citrus and floral oils.
- Eye irritation (H319) — at higher loads.
Whether you cross a threshold depends on the fragrance's composition — from its safety data sheet — and how much you use. A 6% load of one oil can be perfectly safe to sell unlabelled, while 10% of another needs a full warning label.
What goes on the label
A compliant back label carries the signal word, GHS pictograms, hazard and precautionary statements, the EUH208 "contains…" allergen line, your details as the supplier, the net quantity, and a UFI.
Why it matters
Selling an unlabelled or mislabelled candle risks fines and marketplace takedowns — Etsy, Amazon and Faire all require compliant labelling. Getting it right protects both your customers and your shop.
The quick way
Molekule reads your fragrance oil's safety data sheet, works out the finished candle's CLP label at your chosen load, and shows the maximum load before a label is triggered — so you can decide with the rules in front of you. Check your candle's label in Molekule.